September Already?

Well, yes, yes it IS September. I see hints of color in the tree leaves already. We have had a rainy summer followed by a sudden hit of stifling humidity; but this week has ushered in some of the finest days of the season. Still warm and very sunny, but oh so comfortable.
My summer hasn't been all that productive. I have struggled with the lose of my dad, and the oh so many changes that have followed. We move on because we know that is God's design for us, we can not become immoble. That is useless. But it does take ALOT more energy right now to do what needs to be done.
The unexpected death of my father was all too soon followed by the passing of his youngest sister. Another shock. The month after that we lost my great Uncle to whom my dad had grown very close to. It seemed to never end. Now my Grandma, dad's mother, is in hospice care. She has lived a long life, beating the odds of some major health issues in her young adult life. It's been a long hard year for our family. Here is a picture taken by dad's cousin of he and my grandma:


So how do you move on when life seems so rough? Some days honestly I couldn't tell you, but then I am reminded: thinking of others. Life is fragile, we are here for a very short while to share God's love with those around us. I was starkly reminded of this yesterday when my co-worker received the call that her father was being taken to the ER with chest pains. His life here ended yesterday. Just as sudden and heartbreakingly as it happened with my dad only five months ago. And yes, it all came back though it hasn't moved too far away to begin with. But I am gently reminded to poor out the comfort
on my friend as God comforted me in my time of need. We have to focus on others.

Give those you love a hug, let them know you are there. And when life is overwhelming find someone who needs something you can give.
~Blessings

Back in Time

It was a lovely day to watch a Civil War reenactment complete with Abe Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address.



Waiting for the President..


He was quite the story teller!







Oh *sigh*. . .



Mom and I went back Sunday morning for the Union church service..I love a sweet little country church, singing old hymns. But wouldn't ya know they were memorializing a fallen Chaplain. If it was part of the act, we couldn't tell because the tears were flowing. (which of course started our own waterworks)







~Blessings

Can you believe it is July already? I never did plant any veggies this year; but the good news is is that I hear there will be a farmers market right up the street from me this year. The flower beds do look nice and I took a day off yesterday to make the front landscaping look a little more respectable.
We had a parade in town last weekend. Greg drove his grandpa's tractor for the first time since dad's been gone. Must admit I had a lump in my throat~which is quite good for me usually the waterworks start and don't stop!
We also had a weekend full of soccer tournaments. Talk about time flying is on the
U19 team! They had a great weekend of which one of the two days was dry and they came home champs!! My 44 and her #4 BFF
I am still working on crochet. I think I am to the point where I can finish a project and it will look respectable. I haven't really had the energy to quilt, but I can calm my brain down enough again to read. I picked up a Debbie Macomber book for the first time mainly because the cover seemed so relaxing and it's been a nice cheerful read.
I took mom to have shoulder surgery today. From my understanding she had a good sized bone spur removed. This should keep her out of work until her scheduled retirement. She deserves it; she's been making Cool Whi~p for almost 30 years. I wanted her to stay with us, but she laughed at the thought! Honestly she wouldn't get much rest her with the 4 of us and a pup; but I was worried she wouldn't be able to do anything. She seemed great after surgery, though ready for a nap real soon. So I am close enough to check on her and we will see how it goes.

Well, I am lazy tonight...so I am going to pick up a pizza!! Thanks for all your encouraging words!

~Blessings

A Day of Quilts

Mom and I went to a first quilt show today. Incredible. Mindboggling. Inspirational (hopefully)!

Here are a few pictures from the Genesee Valley Quilt Club Inc Quilt Festival at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Take my breathe away!
I love the originality of Remembering Marmalade by Bonnie Robinson. That tail is something else!


I love kids fabric and the sweetness of children's quilts. Here's one of the many that caught my eye.
Alaina's Quilt by Carolyn Maruggi


Batik fabrics always catch my eye, but I always seem to overthink them, thus having no clue how to use them. I love how Joan Wigg used batiks in her Beautiful Batiks Row by Row.


I am an outdoor lover at heart and I am always drawn to nature and God's creatures. I don't know how the moose thing started by I am a sucker for a moose! Claire Welch's Northern Neighbors quilt fit me to a tee!
Here is another beautiful scenic quilt entitled Johnnie's Bear Quilt by Karen Wilcox
One of my favorite patterns is the Courthouse Steps. The pattern is similar to the Log Cabin which is also a favorite of mine. This Courthouse Steps by Liz Cocuzzi is a lovely rendition in browns. Is
n't the border of houses cute on Cracked Up by Cynthia Marino?


I have a special fondness for sampler quilts and traditional blocks Arizona Queen by Nancy Smith is a beauty!.
Also Colton Wedding by Jody Farraci (I love toile prints!)
Can you imagine the work this sampler took? (I missed the name on this one :(


Have you seen the quilts that use all sorts of neat embellishments to add to their style? Well they are even more gorgeous in person than in the magazines! Yesterday by MonaJeanne Easter was absolutely precious!
And some blocks from Ribbons, Pearls, & Lace

Ok, I know, I really can't show you EVERYthing..they were all so lovely! So I will close with a couple of neat quilts that show great use of theme fabrics. You know those fabrics that are just so darn cute but you think, "What could I do with those?" Well, these women did wonders!! Patricia Foote made this adorable A Dick & Jane Quilt to Griffin,
The King was in the building gracing Brook's Elvis by Joyce McMurray And finally, two of my sentimental favorites for their odes to cowboys and cowgirls Saturdays with Gabby by Leslie Delpopolo and My Heros Have Always Been Cowgirls by Kate Wylie



Hope you enjoyed the mini-show!
~Blessings



!

Spring Blooms

Garden Therapy

We had a nice little picnic with mom yesterday. I wish I could say I don't sit there and think about the fact that dad ISN'T there, but I do. Especially when I see the hurt and sadness in my mom's eyes. I believe with all my heart we both try to be positive; neither one of us are the type to mope, but this is a big one and the "sick to your stomach" feeling has not eased. I now it is good though that we both desire to have joy in our lives again; it just is not quick to come of course. Mom has done a bit of spoiling me...she says this is my birthday present, my birthday is not until August though! I have always wanted a china cabinet and I know she has always wanted to give one to me. We found it at an antique store, I liked it there, but I am blown away at how it looks in the dining room. It will always be special to me because she bought it.
The glasses on the top shelf are from my friend, Michelle, and another set from my MIL. The glass bowls on the middle shelf are pieces my mom gave me as house warming gifts.

As I have mentioned before, spring has snuck up on me. The weeds really thought they had me beat. So this weekend I have tried to show my gardens a little TLC. I can't really describe the mood I've been in; it's not the lethargic "I don't care" attitude, but it's more like "I get started and it exhausts my brain too fast" place right now. But the gardens need to get done, nature soothes me, my flowers make me smile. So today was the day:

See the weeds, the wild onions & garlic and the bags of mulch calling out to be opened?
Poor Mr. Frog, who has been with me many years was quite worried that the "jungle" was going to invade his space!
The flowers were kind enough to show up even though I've been a poor hostess!





I did get this bed cleaned up and covered with mulch today, and Mr. Frog was so happy to have some fresh mulch to perch on, and a new rose bush friend to guard!

Thank you again for your prayers. We had more sad news today as my dad's uncle passed away this morning. As a school friend I have reconnected with on facebook writes: You just gotta keep livin' , man. L-I-V-I-N !